Mazepa: romanse, spiski i gusła

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Mazepa: romanse, spiski i gusła

Journal Title: Przegląd Wschodni - Year 2016, Vol 14, Issue 54

Abstract

Ivan Mazepa (most likely 1639–1709) is, on the one hand, an important historical figure, noted as a politician, leader and Ukrainian national hero. On the other, he is a well-known protagonist of European Romantic art and literature. He was assured this position by George Byron’s poem, describing his youthful adventures from when he was at the court of King Jan II Kazimierz Waza of Poland. In most accounts, Mazepa was caught by the husband of his lover, tarred and feathered, then tied naked to a horse, which was then released into the steppe. Voltaire wrote of the episode (Byron relied on his account) as did a number of other diarists at the time. The popularity of Byron’s work caused Mazepa’s adventures to be immortalized in hundreds of literary, plastic art, musical and film works. The article is based on an 18th century source, contributing new elements to the history of Mazepa. Although it was utilized 130 years ago by the Kiev historian, Ivan Mikhailovich Kamanin, direct access to the original has allowed for numerous new observations and interpretations of the events. The document, written in Polish and Latin before 1675, is a record of the interrogation of Zofia Maluszówna, servant to Mazepa’s alleged lover, Helena Zahorowska. Most of the persons named in the report are easily identifiable and the references to the topography of south-eastern Volhynia (where the events took place) adds further credibility to the account. The contents of the interrogation, though, are quite astounding. Not only do they contain an account of a conspiracy to murder the wronged husband, local magistrate Jan Zahorowski, but certain elements of witchcraft – aided by numerous women from his wife’s and mother-in-law’s entourage – also utilized in the attempt, are treated entirely seriously. The document does not contain information as to the outcome of the investigation and there is no mention of any specific punishment which Mazepa might have suffered. It is also not possible to ascertain the exact timeline of events, thought they most likely took place around 1665–1669. The source material’s value is primarily based on the fact that they specifically place the events in Volhynia, as well as the rich material it contains concerning mentalities and customs of the time.

Authors and Affiliations

Jan Ostrowski

Keywords

Mazepa Romans Gusło

EP ID EP323380
DOI -
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